Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton says he put his team ahead rather than himself at the start of the F1 Azerbaijan GP during his fight with Valtteri Bottas.
It was marginal between pole-sitter Bottas and Hamilton at the start of the F1 Azerbaijan GP as the Finn had a fractionally slower run than the British driver, but then he was still able to hold on to the lead with Hamilton stating that he didn’t push enough.
Post-race, Hamilton said he didn’t barge enough as he kept the team’s interest on his mind rather than his, because he didn’t want to take out Bottas in the process – had the situation been like that – and damage his and also the team’s chances.
“It’s very very difficult – ultimately you always have to remember when you’re in a team as big as this that you are only one, and there are so many people that depend on us, so selfishly I could have for sure pushed a lot harder,” started Hamilton.
“And Valtteri would have lost position, maybe I would have gained position, most likely he would have got overtaken by a Ferrari or something like that, so we have to work together. So, whilst I wanted to overtake him, I had to be cautious at the same time.
“So as to give him space, so that we would block the front row and stay there. Ultimately I lost out in that, but that’s a sacrifice you have to sometimes make in order for the team to win. I think if it was a Ferrari there it would have been a lot different.
“And that will be how it continues for the rest of the year – I think Valtteri and I have always had a lot of respect for each other, and we continue to do so. I think you can see that. That’s how we deal with it.
“We discuss it before the race, we agree as gentlemen, and we stick to it.” While talking to Sky Sports F1, the reigning champion stated that he actually gave the place to Bottas, but then insisted that the Finn eventually did the job and deserved to win.
“I was too friendly in Turn 1,” he said. “I basically gave it to him, but he drove a fantastic race, made no mistakes and so he deserved the win this weekend.” At the same time, Bottas admitted to not having made a better start but was happy to hang on.
“Honestly, I could have done a better job at the start,” he said. “I think I was a little bit on the cautious side. I didn’t want to get the wheel spin started, so I was rather smooth on getting on power, not to kind of mess it up.
“But Lewis had a good start, so that’s why he was on the inside and we were pretty much side by side actually through Turn 1, so I was just carrying the speed on the outside, and same thing in Turn 2, leaving enough space.
“It was nice and fair and I was obviously pleased to keep the first place.” His second victory not only secured a record-breaking four 1-2 finish for Mercedes but the Finn retook the drivers’ championship lead from Hamilton by one point.
Here’s how the Azerbaijan GP panned out
Daniel Ricciardo says it was ‘urgency and panic’ in Baku incident
Here’s Charles Leclerc on not pushing in second/third stint
Robert Kubica reveals he nearly crashed in Turn 2 at Azerbaijan GP start
